The 2023 year-end financial reporting covered both Core Ministries and the Self-Funding Ministries, including Material Resources and the Conference Office. Special purpose funds, including the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF), which supports Brethren Disaster Ministries, the Global Food Initiative Fund (GFIF) which supports the Global Food Initiative, and the Emerging Global Mission Fund were also reported on.
Church of the Brethren Newsline
Haitian church seeks hope in the midst of a desperate situation
“The only hope many people have is the light of God in the church,” said Ilexene Alphonse, describing the desperate situation of the Haitian people. Living as the church in Haiti right now is “stressful and it is painful, but the most part is that everybody, they live in a limbo. They are never certain about what will happen,” he said. “There is the constant fear of being kidnapped.”
John Jantzi to conclude his leadership of Shenandoah District in early 2025
John Jantzi has announced that he will conclude his service as district executive minister for the Church of the Brethren’s Shenandoah District, as of March 1, 2025. He has served in the position for almost 12 years, since Aug. 1, 2012. During these years, he has given leadership to district ministries during a season of significant change while faithfully guiding district staff and leaders in their work.
ASIGLEH holds annual conference
ASIGLEH (the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela) held its annual conference in Cucuta, Colombia, on March 12-16 with about 120 church leaders and families in attendance. The conference was led by Roger Moreno, who is president of ASIGLEH.
Mark Cunningham retires from leadership of COBYS, J. Michael Lausch appointed executive director
J. Michael Lausch has been appointed executive director of COBYS Family Services, a non-profit organization based in Lancaster County, Pa., that is related to the Church of the Brethren’s Atlantic Northeast District. Mark Cunningham retired from COBYS in Dec. 2023 after serving as executive director for the last 14 years of his 26-year tenure.
Brethren bits
FaithX registration closes April 1, two facilitator trainings for the “7 Prompts” conversations are offered in early April, the Sounds of the Mountains Storytelling Festival line-up, seventh annual Neurodiversity Symposium at the University of La Verne, an Easter Vigil live from Palestine, and more
Haitian church responds to letter from Church of the Brethren general secretary, church leaders provide updates
L’Eglise des Freres d’Haiti (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti) has sent a response to a pastoral letter from David Steele, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren. The pastoral statement for Haiti was sent to the church in Haiti on March 7. In related news, brief updates on the situation of the church in Haiti have been received from leaders in l’Eglise des Freres d’Haiti. Vildor Archange, who works with the Haiti Medical Project, reported.
Brethren Disaster Ministries works with church in the DR to aid displaced Haitians
The staff of Brethren Disaster Ministries and Iglesia de los Hermanos (the Church of the Brethren) in the Dominican Republic (DR) are working together on an effort to aid displaced Haitians. A grant of $5,000 is being requested from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to provide emergency food to Haitian citizens fleeing across the border to the Dominican Republic and away from the violence in Haiti. Haiti and the DR share the same Caribbean island.
Office of Peacebuilding and Policy one of endorsing organizations for ceasefire prayer vigil in Washington, D.C.
The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy was one of the endorsing organizations for a prayer vigil calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, held Thursday afternoon, March 21, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as part of the Lenten Ceasefire Campaign organized by Christians for Ceasefire.
Congregational ambassadors sought by Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team
The Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team is seeking congregational ambassadors. At an organizing meeting on March 2, the group introduced a new path for individuals feeling a call to help their congregations take action on gun violence prevention.
